Even those who have closely followed Matt McGloin's football career can't believe their eyes.

After an impressive performance at Oakland Raiders OTAs, McGloin has done virtually everything right in training camp. He's shown poise, accuracy and, when given the chance, a little leadership potential, too.

"It's a great competition," offensive coordinator Greg Olson told the Chronicle. "I am just trying to light a fire under both of them. Matt has had some great practices and we decided to shake it up and put him at No. 3.

"But there's a long way to go."

McGloin turned heads again Friday night in his NFL debut, completing 4 of 7 passes for 78 yards and a third-quarter touchdown to Brice Butler. That score gave the Raiders their first lead in an eventual 19-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

McGloin turned in the best performance in the Raiders' wide-open quarterback battle, posting a 135.7 rating in his limited action.

In some ways, McGloin's success could be expected. He is more used to this type of fight than perhaps any other quarterback in an NFL training camp. A former walk-on at Penn State, nothing has ever been handed to him.

In most ways, though, McGloin's performance has been, in a word, stunning.

College recruiting analysts figured he'd maxed out in high school. He was never a serious candidate for the NFL draft, and why would he be? McGloin doesn't fit the big, tall, strong-armed mold of a pro quarterback prospect.

McGloin tried out for two teams -- the Carolina Panthers and Washington Redskins -- before arriving in Oakland. The Scranton native wasn't a good match for the eyeball test but managed to secure a three-year deal with the Raiders.

McGloin is generously listed at 6-1 and 210 pounds, with athletic gifts and arm strength that fall well short of elite. Put him in a competition, though, and the game changes.

After walking on at Penn State, McGloin wasn't in a fair fight for the starting job until his senior season. He was an "also-ran" with nationally acclaimed recruits, in whom the coaching staff had invested scholarships and expectations. It's not unlike his current situation in Oakland.

McGloin didn't become a full-time starter until last season, when coach Bill O'Brien arrived and transformed into the Big Ten's most prolific passer. He completed 270 of 446 passes for 3,266 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions.

McGloin went from error-prone to efficient and seemingly never stopped studying under O'Brien. The result was a dramatic shift in his approach that, when combined with his trademarked "moxie," has carried into McGloin's blossoming NFL career.

"I've seen a smart, compoised guy that throws the ball accurately, makes good decisions, goes the right place for the ball, he understands protections," coach Dennis Allen told Silver and Black Pride. "And really that's where he's kinda separated himself from Tyler although Tyler's been a lot better as he's had a chance to sit back and watch a little bit more."

Compoised, by the way, is not a typo, according Silver and Black Pride. It's a combination of composed and poised, two words that hadn't typically been used to describe McGloin. But O'Brien's tutelage and an endless series of gut-check moments have changed McGloin for the better.

The battle is still uphill as the Raiders give Wilson every opportunity to claim a roster spot. But McGloin remains focused on himself and preparing to outwork and outperform yet another highly touted competitor.